the Residence of certain Fishes. 223 



spect to the plaice, mullet, and flounder ; and it is only to be regret- 

 ted that no further evidence of this satisfactory nature can be 

 adduced in favour of this reasoning. The double residence, how- 

 ever, of the pike, and of the various Cyprini, already more than 

 once quoted, offers a complete argument in favour of the convertible 

 habits of these species at least, in the business of reproduction as in 

 that of food. 



Supposing now that, at least the probability of all these reason- 

 ings is admitted, it only remains to put these speculations to the 

 test of more extensive experiments. Nature has executed two, per- 

 haps more ; art, in the plaice, the smelt, and the mullet, has carried 

 three more into effect. There appears no practical difficulty attending 

 it ; as fish can be transported alive in water, for a great length of time, 

 and to great distances, without inconvenience. If Shetland were differ- 

 ently constituted with respect to the distribution of its population and 

 the residence of its proprietors, a very satisfactory and easy experi- 

 ment, on the cod at least, might be made in Stromness Voe. It 

 would only be necessary to shut up the very narrow opening by 

 which it communicates with the fresh water, by means of a grating, 

 and time alone would soon determine the question. Should this 

 paper meet the eyes of a body of proprietors distinguished for their 

 intelligence and activity, it may perhaps induce him in whose|power 

 it lies, to make this easy experiment. Nor could there, in this 

 place, as in some other situations in Scotland, be any difficulty in 

 extending the same trials to other species of fish. But I need not 

 dwell on this part of a subject which every one is competent to un- 

 derstand, but which not many have the means of submitting to the 

 test of experiment. 



On the transportation offish, I must remark that it is not attended 

 with so much difficulty as is commonly imagined, and that the fault 

 generally has lain with those who have made the attempts. Many 

 fish are exceedingly tolerant of being out of water for a time. The 

 carp is kept in nets, in cellars, and fed thus in Holland. Minnows 

 will live for months, crowded in a quart pot, with as little water as 

 they can barely stir in, or in absolute contact. The whole of the 

 flat fish are similarly tenacious of life ; as are the conger, the gur- 



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